Policies and Procedures

• Ed Psych/Exc'l Child Appeal
• Appeals for Denials
• Grade Expectations
• Racial and Ethnic Harassment/Grievance Procedure
• Student Support System
• Sexual Harassment/Grievance Procedure
• Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
• Student Handbook
• Catalog

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND EXCEPTIONAL CHILD APPEAL

Those students who are in a course sequence/time restriction and must take ED 220/221 Educational Psychology and ED 225/226  Exceptional Child concurrently, must complete and submit a request form and submit it to the Appeals Committee Chairperson.  This MUST be done in a timely manner BEFORE registration so there is plenty of time for the Appeals Committee to meet.

The Appeals Committee will provide written notification to the student regarding decisions and/or recommendations.

CLICK HERE to print a 220/225 Appeals form that you may complete and submit.

APPEALS FOR DENIALS

Students who have been denied admission to the Teacher Education Program, denied permission to continue on in the education sequence of courses or denied permission to Student Teach may appeal the decision of the Department.  Appeals will generally be limited to the following issues:

A.   Cumulative grade point below 2.5

B.   Failure to take or pass the MTTC Basic Skills test

C.   Any grades below a C+ in any level II course or field placement.

CLICK HERE to print an Appeals form that you may complete and submit.

APPEALS PROCESS:

1.    Complete an Appeals Information Form and attach to a formal, typed letter of appeal.

2.    The letter of appeal should include:

1. the reason for appeal, including the terms of denial
2. a specific request
3. a rationale for the request; and,
4. supporting evidence.

3.    The Appeals Committee will provide written notification to the student regarding decisions and/or recommendations.

4.  Students may appeal the decision of the Teacher Education Appeals Committee to the Hope College Student Standing and Appeals Committee.  Procedures are outlined in the Hope College Catalog.  Additional information may be available through the Dean of the Social Sciences, Dr. Nancy Miller, or the Provost, Dr. James Boelkins.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EDUCATION COURSES AT PROGRAM LEVELS TWO AND THREE

The Teacher Education Program at Hope College is committed to the preparation of teacher candidates who successfully meet all Education Department course objectives and who make continuous progress toward meeting the Department’s established goals for future educators, as outlined in the Department’s Six Professional Abilities.

To achieve these ends, we believe that students must successfully complete all courses for which they are enrolled through the Education Department.  They must also successfully complete the field placements that may be attached to these courses.  Successful completion will be demonstrated when students earn a C+ grade or better in any Education Department course or field placement after admission to the Teacher Education Program will not be allowed to continue in the program until they have successfully completed the course or field placement.

Policy adopted January 2001, amended August 19, 2003.

In order to be approved to student teach, students must have a 2.5 or higher in major, minor, Education, and college GPAs.  Approval will be withdrawn if any of the GPAs fall below a 2.5 before the student teaching experience begins.

Policy adopted August 19, 2003.

RACIAL & ETHNIC HARASSMENT/GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

In all matters involving racial and ethnic harassment, intimidation, or humiliation, the Education Department is guided by the Hope College Policy on Racial and Ethnic Harassment. A complete copy of the Racial and Ethnic Harassment Policy can be found at Hope’s Van Wylen Library, Provost’s office, Human Resources office, and Dean of Students office. It is also available on Hope College’s Web site at:

(http://www.hope.edu/about/policies/pdf/RacialHarassment.pdf).

STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEM

The Education Department has developed specific procedures and requirements to be accepted into the Teacher Education Program.  Despite this, each year, a small, but consistent number of students have exhibited difficulties with professional behaviors (i.e. attendance, responsibility, social skills, etc.), while others have allowed grade point averages to drop below acceptable levels.  In any case, this can create a problematic situation.  A procedure has been developed to systematically address concerns with these students in an effort to provide both support and focus towards rectifying the situation and continuing towards a successful experience in the Teacher Education Program.

When a professor identifies a concern about a student, he or she will meet with the student to address the concerns and determine an appropriate course of action.  If the concerns continue, the professor then has the option of presenting the concern at a designated departmental meeting for discussion.  The Department will determine if any additional action is needed; this might consist of an individual conference with the student and referring professor or a meeting with the Student Support Committee.  At this point, the student would develop a plan of action/contract, which would then be reviewed by the committee.  At each point, the student will be encouraged to accept responsibility for the development of the plan and the necessary follow-through.  Education Department faculty will serve as “coaches” to assist the student until the terms of the plan/contract are completed.

The intent of this procedure is to provide encouragement and support when a student is experiencing some type of difficulty before or after having been accepted into the Teacher Education Program, but prior to the student teaching experience.  It is hoped that in doing so, the student will be aided in successfully completing the requirements of the Teacher Education Program.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT/GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

In all matters involving sexual harassment, sexualization, and gender, the Education Department is guided by the Hope College Policy on Sexual Harassment.  A complete copy of the Sexual Harassment Policy can be found at Hope’s Van Wylen Library, Provost’s office, Human Resources office, and the Dean of Students office.  It is also available on Hope College’s Web site:

http://www.hope.edu/admin/documents/sexualh.html

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

In all other matters, including student cheating (Code of Academic Integrity at Hope College or College Catalog (p. 88), the Department follows the guidelines and procedures described in the Faculty Handbook: